Greenpeace advocates for Climate Change Foundation in Sri Lanka

Greenpeace launched its South Asia regional office in Colombo with arrival of the iconic ship Rainbow Warrior, marking the beginning of the highly anticipated ‘People For Climate – Greenpeace Indian Ocean Ship Tour 2024’. The opening ceremony, which was held onboard the Rainbow Warrior on the 13th of February 2024, set the stage for an inspiring journey focused on collective action demanding accountability and resilience in the South Asian region.

The welcome ceremony was a vibrant celebration of unity and collaboration, featuring a captivating cultural performance that showcased the rich heritage of Sri Lanka. The ceremony was graced by key guests, including influencers, youth groups, authorities, celebrities and allies who joined Greenpeace in its mission to tackle climate change.

“Here in Sri Lanka, we’re experiencing an environmental crisis, with climate change disrupting our agriculture and livelihoods. Despite our minimal role in contributing to climate change, as a biodiversity hotspot in Southern Asia, we’re disproportionately impacted. It’s imperative for us, alongside Greenpeace South Asia and other local environmental movements, to advocate for a dedicated climate change foundation in Sri Lanka.” said Jehan CanagaRetna, Environmentalist and Greenpeace South Asia board member

‘Over a billion and a half people live in the South Asian region comprising 8 different countries which are home to some of the most ecologically sensitive regions in the world. Additionally data shows that the region has the second largest share of the global poor. The multidimensional poverty, dependency on natural resources and weather patterns are just some of the reasons that makes the population of this region particularly vulnerable to the instability that comes with the climate crisis. According to a World Bank report over 800 million South Asians are living in future climate change hotspots, meaning these regions can get increasingly unliveable.’ said Binu Jacob, Executive Director, Greenpeace South Asia/India